The Letters and Layers Podcast

Hey everyone! One month down! January usually drags for me, but the last couple of years it's been flying by. Can't believe we're already in February. So happy to get back to the books by kicking off part one of sharing my thoughts about Glennon Doyle's, Untamed. I highlight specific quotes in the first half of the book that touch on expectations of women, motherhood, and the importance of allowin...

Hey everyone! Happy 2023! I appreciated having a short break to spend time with myself and my family, but happy to get back into the swing of things and reconnect! This episode a shorter one, as I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself as I ease back into my routine. I'm sharing about how I spent my holidays, completing a health and fitness challenge, starting a new job (!!) and offering...

Hey everyone! I'm really excited to talk to you guys and have a laid back chat with you all this episode. We're rounding out the end of the year and with that comes reflections in true "me" fashion. I'm talking about acceptance this episode as it's been a theme for me this month so far. We're also discussing books I didn't finish this year (haha), tapping into our creative side, and how some seemi...

Happy December everyone! We're practically at the end of the year and I am looking forward to ending on a high note! We're talking Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on this episode, specifically within the context of the book Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine. From what I've read so far, I recommend! You can find this book and other trauma related titles in this YouTube video published by the channel...

Hey y'all! Happy Mid-November! This episode discusses more somber subject matter: the topic of grief centered around the book, Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I have been an admirer of her work for a long time and felt privileged to read this personal account of her early experiences dealing with the grief of losing her father at the height of COVID. I integrate my thoughts of the book...

It's November 1st y'all! This month is particularly special for me with the coming of the holidays, my dear mother's birthday and my wedding anniversary. A lot of things going on, but happy things nonetheless. On this episode, I'm talking about friendships and the process of taking them to the next level. I also discuss seasonal depression and symptoms you can experience as a result of this time o...

Hey Everyone! For this episode I wanted to share an essay I wrote in reaction to Bassey Ikpi's book I'm Telling the Truth but I'm Lying. In the book, she talks about her experience with Bipolar Disorder and journey it took to get the support she needed. I read this book two years ago and still think about it every so often. I had never encountered a book like it: a detailed account of a Black woma...

Happy October! We are getting closer to the end of the year! On this episode, I'm taking about how nutrient deficiencies can impact our mental health, specifically one in particular based on a new study. Also, I talk about my observations and things I've found to be true working with my patients so far. I cannot overstate the importance of sleep and work/life balance! Listen to the episode to hear...

Hey y'all! September is halfway done! Can you believe it? On this episode I'm taking about the results of my Myers-Briggs Personality test and how surprised I was at the accuracy of the results! If you haven't taken the quiz and are curious about what your outcome would be, click the accompanying link: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test I am also talking about what I've processe...

Today is the one year anniversary of publishing my first episode. As today approached, I felt moved to write about what I was feeling about this upcoming milestone a couple weeks ago. The thoughts that I've dealt with while pushing through, prepping, producing, and recording each episode. I've committed to writing more frequently and the title "Write About Nothing" comes from the pressure to alway...

It's a new month y'all! Happy September! To conclude our discussion of Life, I Swear, by Chloe Dulce Louvouezo , I'm highlighting a few essays that I really loved. We're talking productivity and self worth, being intentional with documenting life moments, and being more open about the realities of postpartum and mental health. Forever thankful to Chloe for spearheading this by sharing some of her...

Hey y'all! I apologize this episode is going live later than usual today due to my hectic schedule this weekend, but we're making it work! While listening to this episode, I encourage you to think about the question in the title: what does home mean to you? Is it a place specifically? Or something more? In Life I Swear by Chloe Dulce Louvouezo, the theme of home and its potential meanings is a the...

Hey y'all! Happy new month! Kicking off the month of August with an episode about a topic that I am particularly passionate about, maternal mental health. I'm diving deep into the subject of baby blues (8:35), postpartum depression (19:05) and postpartum psychosis (47:29). We're talking causes, symptoms, statistics, risk profiles, treatments and helpful strategies that can assist in getting throug...

Hey everyone! As promised, I am rounding out my discussion on The Sex Lives of African Women part two with this episode starting at (15:08). I want to let you know that I do talk about sexual assault as it is a theme of the book, so if this is a sensitive topic for you as a listener, please do so with caution. Along with this subject topic I talk about the culture around sexual assault and how tha...

Hey y'all! No book this episode! So excited to be back from break. A lot has happened as you can see from the title of this episode. I talk about what led to the decision, along with other personal updates and what to expect with the next few episodes. I hope you enjoy! I want to also say welcome to everyone who has subscribed since May! I hope you are enjoying the content and will continue to lis...

Hey y'all! We are almost halfway through the year! I really can't believe it. In this episode, we're having a quick conversation. I am taking a short break from posting episodes, but will continue recording behind the scenes in the meantime. And I'm discussing some timely reminders I need for myself that others may appreciate hearing as well. I will be back soon. Thank you as always for listening....

Hey y'all! In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to talk about anxiety as a mental health condition and offer some information and statistics that may be helpful for anyone who listens to this episode. Many people experience anxiety but may not know it to be the case, so having a reference in the form of this episode and being able to name what you may be going through can foster a s...

Hey everyone! Happy May! I can't believe we're already this far into the year. To start the new month off, I'm talking about The Sex Lives of African Women by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah. I share some thoughts on themes like marriage, relationship expectations, and what it often means to be a woman with sexual agency (23:40). Before discussing the book, I talk about my "anchors" that I've established wi...

Happy Saturday y'all! I'm excited to share something a little different with you guys. I wrote this essay Summer 2020 at the height of the pandemic, when we were on lockdown with fewer options of how to spend our time. This was around the time where I tapped back into my love for reading, which has ultimately transformed into this podcast. After completing a class assignment where I had to write a...

Hey y'all! I've had this book on my reading list for a long time, so I'm excited to have finally read Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed and share my thoughts on work ethic and boundaries with family members on this episode. It came highly recommended and was worth the read. I also give an update on my new podcasting routine and a new class I'm taking....

Hey y'all! I’m really excited to get back to talking books and really enjoyed producing this episode. Many of us could always use more help with starting and maintaining habits, and I think this book is great to support you in that journey. I know there is a lot I took away personally that I will keep in mind with habits in the future. I hope you enjoy! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend...

Hey y'all! I've missed recording! With the move, starting work, and getting into a new rhythm, I took a break from recording but I'm back and really excited to get going again. In this episode I'm talking about how my work as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is going as a new graduate. I talk about the significant change of pace in my daily life, tracking small wins, and working not to internalize...

Hey yall! On this episode, I talk about my personal tools of mental hygiene and the strategies I use to re-regulate when I need to. I dive into the ways I use journaling, meditation, yoga, and audio voice notes to manage intense feelings on a day to day basis. I also briefly talk about hitting a milestone on this podcast journey at the beginning of this episode. I hope you enjoy! Please follow/sub...

Hey everyone! I've got my Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner hat on this episode and am putting my Yale degree to use by breaking down the clinical symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (5:47). It delights me that we are taking mental health more seriously as a generation, and it's important to be equipped with the right language and information so listeners like you all are able to prop...

Hey yall! On this episode of the podcast, we're rounding out our two-part mini-series on The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (starts at 2:52). I discuss the remaining three agreements in the book: Chapter 3:Don't Take Anything Personally Chapter 4: Don't Make Assumptions Chapter 5: Always Do Your Best I hope you enjoy! Please follow/subscribe, share and recommend! If you would like to share any...